Move-out cleaning process: from photo quote to handover in 5 steps

The boxes are packed, the moving date is set – and someone else should take care of the final clean of the old flat. Many people then wonder: what happens after I ask for a quote, what do I need to prepare myself, and who will be there at the handover? Here is the move-out cleaning process, step by step, as we handle it at Priority Clean.

From the first photo to handing over the keys there are five steps. Knowing them helps you plan calmly and avoid the typical bottlenecks in the last days before you move.

Why a clear move-out cleaning process saves stress

At the handover of a rented flat in Switzerland, everything is inspected closely. The Swiss homeowners' association HEV describes, from the landlord's point of view, what is usually expected: the tenant clears and thoroughly cleans the flat and ancillary rooms – windows inside and out including frames, shutters and blinds, the cooker, oven and fridge, grease in the extractor hood, limescale in the bathroom and toilet, and the floors.

Worth knowing: you are allowed to do the final clean yourself. According to the leaflet of the Swiss German tenants' association, cleaning is owed as agreed in the lease; clauses requiring a specialist cleaning company are not binding. If you do hire a company, the process should be clear enough that there are no surprises on handover day.

1. Quote from photos: how the fixed price is set

The effort of a move-out clean depends on size, condition and the number of windows. So we do not need a viewing – a few clear photos via WhatsApp or the online form are enough:

• Kitchen with the oven open, extractor hood and fridge
• Bathroom and toilet, especially grout, taps and the shower screen
• Windows, blinds or shutters
• Floors and built-in cupboards
• Balcony, cellar and attic

Add the number of rooms, bathrooms and windows, the location and the handover date. Within 24 hours you receive a binding fixed price with no hidden costs, which still applies if the job takes longer on site. The factors that affect the price are explained in End of tenancy cleaning cost.

2. Plan the date around your moving day

Cleaning happens between moving day and the handover. Ideally it takes place shortly before the handover so that nobody enters the flat afterwards. Plan in this order:

1. Agree the handover date with the property management.
2. Set your moving day, with a little buffer before cleaning day.
3. Book the move-out cleaning and confirm the date.

Ideally book two to three weeks in advance. Demand is high around the usual end-of-month moving dates. A last-minute request is often still possible – just message us on WhatsApp.

3. What you prepare before the cleaning

A few conditions need to be in place for everything to run smoothly:

• Flat completely cleared: including cellar, attic, balcony and storage room. Only then can we reach everything.
• Electricity and water available: do not cancel or disconnect them before the handover.
• Fridge empty: remove all food and defrost the freezer compartment if needed.
• Keys arranged: who gives us the keys, and when?
• Small jobs done: filling holes in walls is, depending on the lease, a tenant's duty and not part of the cleaning. See Filling holes in walls when moving out.

4. Cleaning day: the order of work

A professional move-out clean follows a fixed order: from top to bottom so that dust and water do not fall onto surfaces already cleaned, and always finishing with the floors.

We bring the equipment and cleaning products. You usually do not need to be there on cleaning day – just agree with us in advance how we get access to the flat.

5. The handover with property management

On the agreed date, the property manager inspects the flat and records its condition in the handover report. The law requires the landlord to check the property on its return and immediately notify the tenant of defects the tenant is liable for (Art. 267a Code of Obligations).

With us, a member of the team attends the handover. If anything about the cleaning is objected to, we re-clean free of charge – that is our handover guarantee. As the tenant you are still responsible for the handover itself: plan to attend, read the report carefully and hand over the keys. What such a guarantee covers, and which questions to ask any company, is explained in Move-out cleaning with guarantee.

Common misconceptions about the move-out process

• "The company can clean while we are still moving." As long as furniture and boxes are in the way, a thorough clean is impossible.
• "We'll cancel electricity and water for moving day." Without water and light, no cleaning is possible.
• "We'll just pop back for the last few things after the clean." Every visit leaves marks that show at the handover.
• "I don't need to be at the handover." The handover remains your responsibility.

Priority Clean editorial teamOur cleaning team from Alberswil, Canton of Lucerne, shares hands-on experience from move-out, house, office and window cleaning across Central and Northwestern Switzerland.